One in four Italians at risk of poverty

Approximately one in four Italians (23%) is at risk of poverty, up from one in five in 2006 (19.6%), a Bank of Italy report noted on March 12.

The rate of immigrants at risk of poverty has risen from on in three (34%) to an astounding one in two (55%) over the same period of time

Italy continues to suffer from extreme regional disparities, but poverty is becoming a national narrative. In the historically wealthy and industrial north of Italy, those living under the poverty line has doubled over the last decade, surging from 8.3% to 15%.

As is the case across the whole of the EU, inequality is also surging. Italy’s top 5% holds 30% of the country’s wealth, while the richest 30% control 75% of the overall national wealth of Europe’sthird-largestt economy.